Pirates begin title quest at home to Celtic

by Staff Reporter

Friday Aug 02, 2019. 13:02

Orlando Pirates’ quest to win the Absa Premiership begins with a clash at home to Bloemfontein Celtic at the Orlando Stadium in Saturday 3 August 2019, kick-off at 18h00.

Pirates ended last season with a 3-0 home win over Polokwane City on May 11, but the result only saw them finish in second place on the log – two points adrift of champions Mamelodi Sundowns. They recorded 15 wins, 12 draws and three defeats for a haul of 57 points.

The Buccaneers claimed 28 points from their 15 home matches last season, with their only defeat as hosts coming against Bidvest Wits in August 2018.

Celtic ended last season with a 3-1 home win over AmaZulu, a result which left them in eighth place on the log. They recorded 11 wins, seven draws and 12 defeats for a haul of 40 points.

Phunya Sele Sele claimed 19 points from 15 away matches last season: P15 W5 D4 L6.

In head-to-head stats, Celtic and Pirates have met in 62 league matches since 1985. The Buccaneers have claimed 31 wins compared to 15 for Phunya Sele Sele, while 16 matches have been drawn. The Soweto side has claimed 20 wins from 31 home matches in the rivalry, suffering just four defeats in the process.

Last season Celtic took four points off Pirates, winning 1-0 at home in August 2018 thanks to a strike from Bongani Sam, while the return game in Soweto in March 2019 ended 1-1 after Luvoyo Memela cancelled out Tshepo Rikhotso’s opener.

Pirates’ line-up from their 1-1 draw with Celtic on March 5: Sandilands, Jele, Ndengane, Maela, Mabaso (Qalinge 61’), Nyatama, Pule, Mahachi (Gabuza 72’), Lorch, Shonga, Mulenga (Memela 59’).

Celtic’s line-up from their 1-1 draw with Pirates on March 5: Tignyemb, Sam, Mahashe, Rikhotso, Mabena (Pfumbidzai 74’), Tani, Maema, Mashikinya, Masuku (Letsoalo 61’), Phalane (Kobedi 86’), Baloyi.